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ECO-2013-Section-77 Kurt Doherty July 29,1999 Assignment #4 To Each His Due
All those who live in the United States are accustomed to private property.
Everyday situation sometimes lead to what life would be like without it. One can
see what the effects are to living in a private society and realize how
efficiency and justice are raised to an overall level. This takes place within
an apartment building in Washington DC, however many apartments throughout the
United States would off the same aspects. Upon living in the apartments, tenants
are charged a monthly rent as well as an additional bill for utilities, which
includes gas, water, fuel, oil, and electricity. The apartments are considered
master metered, which means those living in the apartments are allowed to use as
much electricity, water and gas as they want. At the end of the month the
utilities are added up and divided amongst the number of tenants and then billed
appropriately. However, the idea of master metered brings up the problem of some
getting a free ride off those who conserve.
For example, take two people who
live in the same apartment complex. One of the tenants is very aware of
conserving energy. She always turns off the lights when she's out of the room,
turns the air up a little in the summer and the heat down in the winter. She
basically lives her life being a little uncomfortable for the sake of saving
everyone in her building a little money. On the other hand, her neighbor does
just the opposite. He never turns out the lights, keeps his apartment ice cold
in the summer and nice and toasty in the winter. He even decides against turning
his air off when leaves for the weekend, figuring he'll come home to a hot
apartment. He feels he is just paying an average of everyone's consumption so
why should he not be comfortable? So between the neighbors, the bill at the end
of the month remains the same because one gives a little while the other takes.
Unfortunately those living in an apartment will never compromise on the use of
utilities. However, if the tenants don't abuse their use of the utilities and
use only what they need to stay comfortable, the monthly bill will average out
to be an acceptable amount. It is un-excusable for someone to leave their lights
on all day while they are away at work. At the same time it is just as bad for
someone to be cold in their apartment in the wintertime because they are trying
to keep the bill down for everyone. Federal spending is managed in the same
master meter manner. This occurs because the taxpayers are charged the same rate
for projects weather they are financed in their area or not. This allows
legislature to act just like greedy tenants in an apartment.
They take and take
from the money source as fast as possible without recognition of the taxpayers
money. Just as stated before, it is important to maintain a balance to keep
everyone happy. It is necessary for everyone living in a private society to not
only think of themselves but also be aware of how their actions affect others.
If everyone keeps taking while others continue to give, sooner or later the
givers will give up and the free riders will be stuck without any help from
anyone.
Words: 568
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